While no one knows exactly which mix of factors and to what extent those factors are causing algal blooms on Lake Erie, it’s clear among the scientific community that, in the western basin, farmers are at the very least playing a significant role. Along with sunlight, the release of soil nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen […]

Rep. Lamar Smith said climate change “alarmists” ignore the “positive impacts” of more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, such as increased food production and quality. But the impact of increased CO2 levels on agriculture is more complicated than that — and, on balance, likely negative, particularly in the future. Other factors aside, an atmosphere with more CO2 does boost crop yield in the short term via increased rates of […]

Manure’s impact on formation of larger and more stable soil aggregates was the focus of an earlier article. This article reviews the soil erosion and runoff benefits resulting from changes to soil’s physical characteristics from manure. Charles Wortmann and Dan Walters, faculty in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, provide several important […]

Soil building effort protects water, builds yields and bridges farm-urban gap. Think Different When trying new practices, Minnesota farmer Tom Pyfferoen recommends taking a measured approach. When Tom Pyfferoen tried no-till on some sandy, gravelly soils, his goal was better yields. The results started him down a soil and water conservation path he didn’t expect, […]

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While no one knows exactly which mix of factors and to what extent those factors are causing algal blooms on Lake Erie, it’s clear among the scientific community that, in the western basin, farmers are at the very least playing a significant role. Along with sunlight, the release of soil nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen […]

Rep. Lamar Smith said climate change “alarmists” ignore the “positive impacts” of more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, such as increased food production and quality. But the impact of increased CO2 levels on agriculture is more complicated than that — and, on balance, likely negative, particularly in the future. Other factors aside, an atmosphere with more CO2 does boost crop yield in the short term via increased rates of […]

Manure’s impact on formation of larger and more stable soil aggregates was the focus of an earlier article. This article reviews the soil erosion and runoff benefits resulting from changes to soil’s physical characteristics from manure. Charles Wortmann and Dan Walters, faculty in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, provide several important […]

Soil building effort protects water, builds yields and bridges farm-urban gap. Think Different When trying new practices, Minnesota farmer Tom Pyfferoen recommends taking a measured approach. When Tom Pyfferoen tried no-till on some sandy, gravelly soils, his goal was better yields. The results started him down a soil and water conservation path he didn’t expect, […]